Process of extracting tin.



E. 0. HIGGINS. PROGESS 0F EXTRAGTING TIN. APPLICATION FILED n30.14,19o7.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

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PROCESS OF EXTRACTING TIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908.

Application filed December 14, 1907. Serial N 0. 406,477.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMERSON C. HIGGINS, a citizen of the- United States, residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Process of Extracting Tin, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful process of extracting tin from tin scraps,

such as old tin cans for example, and has for its object a simple and economical means for accomplishing the result.

In the. following I have described, in connection with the accompanying drawings, one means of practicing my process, the features thereof being more particularly pointed out hereinafter in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of one form of apparatus for practicing my process and Fig. 2 is a cross sectional plan view of the same along the line AB of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

1 represents abase or standard of any suitable material, preferably cast iron having air openings (not shown) in its sides and provided with bearings 22 for a shaft 3. A pulley 4, adapted to be driven by any suitable means, is mounted on one end of shaft 3.-

A gear wheel is mounted on shaft 3 intermediate bearings 22. Base 1 is provided with a centrally apertured table or top 6 adapted to form a support for a centrally apertured plate 7 forming the bottom of a receptacle 8 which latter is preferably circular in form and made from plates 9 and 10 so disposed as to form a jacket havingan air space 11 between them. Receptacle 8 is ro'vided with a removable cover 12 centrally apertured, said aperture being adapted to be closed by a door 13. Outlets 14 closed by screw plugs 15 are suitably disposed in the bottom plate 7 of receptacle 8. A ring 16 forming a seat for ball bearings 17 and a support for bearing blocks 18 rests on plate 7. Steel strips 19 form a bearing surface for ball bearings 17. Bearing blocks 18 each carry a wheel 20 turning on a shaft 21. A. basket 21, preferably formed of metallic strips 22 and strciiigthened by reinforcing strips 2 32 3 is bolted or otherwise firmly fastened to a ring 24, provided with a track 25 bearin against wheels 20. Ring 24 rests upon balI bearings 17 and. is bolted or otherwise firmly I fastened to plate 26 carryin gear 27 adapted to mesh with gear 5 on sha t 3. Basket 21 is provided with a preferably centrally located conical space 28 having preferably imperforate Walls 28 and a cover 29 provided with an aperture 30. A pipe 31, provided with a plurality of burners 32 is adapted to conduct gas and air under pressure from any suitable source (not shown) into space 28. Valve 33 controls gas ipe 31 and valve 34 controls air pipe 35, the combustible mixture of gas and air being thus controlled as desired.

The operation of the foregoing means illustrating one way of carrying out my process is as follows: door 13 being open tin scraps are dumped into basket 21 and door '13 closed. Pulley 4 is then caused to turn, rotating shaft 3 carrying gear 5, meshing Valves 33 and '34 are then opened and the gas is ignited, the radiating heat of the same melting the tin, the flames themselves not coming into contact with the tin scraps. I have found that gas and air under a pressure of approximately five pounds and a speed of rotation of the basket of approximately 800 the temperature enough to melt the tin from the scraps and to cause. the same immediately that it is melted to be thrown by centrifugal force through the meshes of basket 21 and into receptacle 8 against inner wall or plate 9. Plate 9 being. at a temperature below the melting point of tin, the tin solidifies in the shape of fine scales. cient is accumulated in the receptacle, cover or plate 9 and discharged through outlets 14. The tin thus melted and recovered is not oxidized as the heat is only sufficient to melt the tin and the tin is thrown off immediately that it is melted.

hereinabove described may be utilized in practicing the process without departing from the spirit .and scope of the invention. Furthermore the process may be used for melting other metals than tin as specifically set forth and where I use the word tin in the claims I mean to include such other purposes.

ters Patent is with gear 27 and thus rotating basket 21..

revolutions a minute aresufficient to raise It is obvious that other means than that v 12 is removed and the tin is scraped off wall I do not restrict myself to the details. set forth nor to the specific uses described.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let- 1. The process of removing tin from tin I scraps consisting in melting the tin without permitting the flame to contact with the scraps and throwing off the melted tin by centrifugal force.

2. The process "of removing tin from tin scraps consisting of melting the tin by radiated heat without permitting the flame to contact with the scraps and throwing off the melted tin by centrifugal force.

3. The rocess of removing tin from tin scraps wit out oxidizing the same consisting in subjecting the scraps to heat at a temperature'just sufficient to melt the tin but without permitting the flame to contact with the scraps and throwing ofi the tin, immediately it is melted, by centrifugal force.

4. The process of removing tin from tin scraps-consisting in subjecting the tin scraps to the effect of radiated heat applied at approximately the center ofthe mass and at a temperature sufficient to melt the tin and throwing off the melted tin by centrifugal force immediately that it is melted.

5. The process of manufacturing tin from tin scraps consisting in melting the tin without permitting the flame to contact with the scraps and throwing off the melted tin in a substantially horizontal plane by centrifugal force.

, In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EMERSON C. HIGGINS.

Witnesses:

SEABURY O. MASTIC-K, K. G. LE ARI); 

